“Youare invited to enter one or all of the athletic events of the Parlor Athletic Club, on Wednesday evening, November third, at 65 Sycamore Street. Everybody will break training at the end of the meet.“Bertrand C. Frost,Field Marshal.“October twenty-fifth, 1903.”
“Youare invited to enter one or all of the athletic events of the Parlor Athletic Club, on Wednesday evening, November third, at 65 Sycamore Street. Everybody will break training at the end of the meet.
“Bertrand C. Frost,Field Marshal.
“October twenty-fifth, 1903.”
As each guest enters the front door, the scorer should put down the guest’s name, number it, and pin on his back a plainly numbered card. As he enters the parlor or dining-room, a paper and pencil should be given to him. The events should be plainly listed on a blackboard. The announcer should say: “Will each competitor please write his number at the head of his sheet, and under this the numbers, but not the names, of the events which he means to enter? The more entries, the better. Hand your sheets to me.”
Four judges (grown people are the best) can quickly make lists of the people entering each event. Then the announcer should clear the field, and the events should begin as promptly as possible. The following list may be too long:
1. Taking the largest bite from an apple hung by a string. The hands of the competitor must be held behind his back.
2. Holding the breath the longest without laughing.
3. Balancing a cane on one finger the longest.
4. Throwing bean-bags into a hole cut in a board. Fifteen feet is a good distance. Each competitor should be allowed five bags.
5. Laughing in the most original manner.
6. A tickling-match. Two competitors should each be given a feather. One hand must be held behind the back. An eight-foot circle is drawn. The winner is he or she who stays the longer in the circle without making a sound.
7. Hand-wrestling. Two people stand opposite each other, with legs braced, and grasp each a hand, holding the other hand behind them. The point is to jerk or pull your opponent in such a manner that he is forced to move one of his feet.
8. Standing on one foot, on a chair, the longest. The right arm must be held up straight, and not supported.
9. Sitting down on the floor, and getting up again most gracefully. The arms must be folded.
10. Thrusting a cane through a swinging napkin-ring. The fewest thrusts count the most.
11. Running up-stairs in the quickest time. Every stair must be used.
12. “Putting” the balloon. The competitor must stand in a seven-foot circle, or come up to a line from not more than seven feet back, and “put” a toy balloon as far ahead as possible. The distance must be measured from the spot on the floor or ceiling where the balloon first strikes, to the middle of the putting-edge of the circle or of the putting-line.
13. Bending over and touching the ground with the palms of both hands. The knees must not be bent. The point is to go over as many times as possible.
Three places should be counted in each event. A first place should score three points; a second place, two points; a third place, one point. The largest reward should be given to the boy or girl having the largest total score. Be sure to give rewards that either a boy or a girl would like, for girls have a way of winning them when they have a good chance.
For decorations use the graceful Florida moss if it can be procured; if not, tissue-paper orange blossoms are pretty. Palms and similar potted plants may be placed here and there. Have a pond made of a large mirror with the frame covered with foliage, and in or on the pond should be a number of pond-lily needle-books and penwipers; these the Juniors can easily make of white and green cloth for petals and leaves, with bits of yellow wool in the centre. There may also be in the pond some frog-shaped and alligator-shaped boxes made of wood with the bark left on for the alligators, and finished in both cases to look as lifelike as possible.
In the centre or at one side of the room have an orange grove. The oranges are various small articles, each wrapped in a wad of cotton, made as nearly round as possible, covered with orange-colored tissue-paper and tied with a green string to the evergreen trees composingthe grove. Each purchaser is to select the orange he prefers, paying a trifle for it.
Besides the pond and the orange grove there may be a lemonade-well profusely decked with foliage, a booth where real oranges and other tropical fruits are sold, another booth for cake and candies, one for fancy-work, one for flowers, and a special one for fans, all having suggestions of the tropics about them. If the orange scheme is to predominate, the fancy-work booth should be filled with articles made in shades of orange, and the cakes, candies, and ices may be flavored with orange; the booths may be draped in orange and white, and the girls in charge of them should wear white dresses with orange ribbons. In the grove should be seats and small tables where refreshments can be served as ordered.
This will be found no more trouble to prepare, on the whole, than most ordinary fairs, and is much prettier.
In Miss Alcott’s “Jack and Jill” are described several good tableaux taken from scenes in the life of Washington. The cherry-tree episode is delightful; Washington crossing the Delaware, exciting; and the “Daughters of Liberty,” the “Surrender of Cornwallis,” the pathetic camp scene, “Washington at Trenton,” the Washington family, and the simulated statue of the “Minuteman,” all very effective. The detailed description would take too much space here,but the book is to be found in most libraries; and, even if it is not obtainable, the subjects may prove suggestive, and are all within the ability of children or quite young people.
Many, however, will prefer games. Did you ever play “cherry-tree blind man’s buff”? For this you will want twenty or more candied cherries, and an impromptu cherry-tree, which may be the bough of an evergreen placed upright in a flower-pot or a box. Tie the cherries to the branches with bits of silk thread a few inches long. Blindfold the Juniors one at a time; turn the blindfolded one around three times; give him a pair of scissors; and tell him to clip all the cherries he can from the tree, allowing him three minutes for the trial. He must not feel for the tree with his hands, but simply reach out with the scissors and clip where he thinks the cherries are. A little box of candied fruit is given as a reward to the one who succeeded in clipping the most cherries.
On one occasion of this kind the “yarn-spinning contest” described originally in the “spinning social” of “Eighty Pleasant Evenings” was included, the guests each trying to tell the most improbable story. But instead of the most successful story-teller’s being honored with the title of “fibmaster-general,” the reward was quite unexpectedly presented to the one who had told thepooreststory, on the ground that Washington was a poor hand at telling stories and to be like him is a mark of patriotism worthy of reward.
“Burying the hatchet” is suggestive of all sorts ofpeaceful things, but is in reality quite a lively contest. Divide the company into two sections. Have ready one of the little hatchet-shaped candy-boxes, to be had at most confectioners’ about February 22. One division of the Juniors leaves the room; the other division hides the hatchet; and the outside party returns, and tries in five guesses to locate it. If successful, their side wins a point; if not, they win nothing. The two divisions change places, the first hiders of the hatchet going out of the room and becoming the guessers. Each side has three turns, alternating in this way. The side which has then won most points receives the hatchet filled with bonbons.
A “Washington quiz” historic in character, might be included, with such questions as the following:
Little paper flags tinted red, white, and blue were used in one such test, the questions being written upon the reverse side.
For refreshments, serve lemonade with canned cherries dropped into it, and fancy crackers or cakes in the form of little hatchets.
Perhaps one of the Juniors has a printing-press; if so, this is a good chance to use it.
Print hand bills asking “all the wise people” in town to come to your entertainment to be given the evening of April 1, naming the hall and the price of admission.
Tickets should be distributed when asked for; as the hand-bills should announce, the tickets of admission are to be at a certain price, payable at the door as you go out, after the entertainment is over. This plan is in keeping with the rest of the evening, and is also partly to reassure any who suspect that an April First entertainment might be so complete a hoax as not to take place at all.
Have a poster at the entrance of the hall, warning every one, “Who enters here must leave all sense behind.”
The decorations are truly unique. Rugs, strips of carpets, and an occasional chair ornament the walls, while pictures and posters are hung up on the floor. A curtain might be gracefully draped along the floor of the platform. Everything, as far as possible, is in the place usually assigned to something else.
Programmes printed all sides up with care, and as unexpected in typographical arrangement as the furnishings, should be handed around. The announcement at the top of the page should be in small type, the rest in larger size; the margin should vary in width from line to line, each paragraph beginning at the edge of the sheet; and every sentence must begin with a period and end with a capital. The Juniors, with a little suggestion now and then, will find this part of the work great fun, and will learn some things regarding correct rules of printing in the very effort to break them.
The first thing on the programme is, of course, the good-night speech, thanking the audience for their kind attention and generous applause, and inviting them, before leaving, to partake of refreshments. The menus that are then passed may contain all sorts of possible and impossible dishes, but the refreshments themselves must be always something widely different from what was ordered. For instance, if one orders quail on toast, coffee, and layer cake, he is likely toget a cheese sandwich, a pickle, and a glass of water, with the grave assurance that these dishes were exactly the ones that he ordered.
After the refreshments the programme is rendered. “A recitation by little Edith Jones” proves to be some time-honored selection like “Mary had a little lamb,” or “You’d scarce expect one of my age,” recited in a childish lisp and high key, by the largest, tallest boy in the society; in fact, one of the seniors may have to be called upon for this honor, as he should be, if possible, more than six feet tall. “A patriotic address by General Wynhart” should be, on the contrary, a particularly captivating dialogue or duet by two pretty little girls, or a motion song by several tiny tots. “A violin solo by Signor Grateforio” is a song by a quartette. “A bass solo, ‘Rocked in the cradle of the deep,’ by Professor Rorer,” should be a little girl’s lullaby to her doll, very soft and sweet. “Grand chorus by four hundred voices” may be a violin solo. And so with the whole programme, ending with the address of welcome. Aim to have many really fine numbers, but see to it that every one is something unexpected.
As the people go out, the spirit of fun will have so thoroughly taken possession of them that it will be a wonder if there are no buttons or similar treasures offered as the price of admission, or rather of escape; but not many would be so mean, and then it need not be accepted, for, when asked, every one will be obliged to admit that he has had his quarter’s worth of fun.
Label each Junior with a letter on his arrival. This may be done by having ready in advance small cards, each with a letter plainly painted on it and with a ribbon loop attached, to be pinned on the dress or hung around the neck. In preparing the letters omit V, X, and Z, and make several copies apiece of the letters in most common use.
First, the Juniors may see what words they can form by grouping themselves according to their letters. For instance, a Junior labelled with F goes and finds one with O, and together they have made one word, “of”; then these two group themselves with a third labelled R, and by rearranging the order they have “for”; then by finding successively T, H, and U, they have “fort,” “forth,” and “fourth,” etc. No group may discard a letter once accepted, nor add one that will not make a correctly spelled word, but they may rearrange the order of their letters as often as they wish. At the end of a stated time the group that has the longest word has won the game, which might be known as “word-building.”
Another letter contest, with the same labels, is perhaps still more interesting. It is called the “Alphabetical Question Game.” One of the Juniors asks another a question. The answer must begin with the letter worn by the one replying, and must be given before the questioner can count ten slowly and distinctly. If the one questioned fails to reply in time,or starts his reply with a wrong letter, the questioner takes his letter from him and adds it to his own. All players supplied with one or more letters may go about asking questions in this way, but two must not question the same player at once, and no one may give the same answer twice. A player may answer from any of the letters that he is wearing; and, if a player loses his only letter, he is supplied with another, but not more than twice. When time is up, the player having the most letters is the winner.
A game of “letter tag” is one in which the vowels all chase the consonants. Each Junior wearing a vowel is given a particular corner for his “den.” There is also a general goal. At a signal the vowels start in pursuit of the consonants, all circling the room in the same direction. Those consonants that escape to the goal without being overtaken are safe for the first run; those tagged are obliged to return with their captors to the respective “dens” and remain there until the end of the game. After a certain number of these runs the vowel that has captured the most consonants is pronounced Czar, or Czarina, as the case may be. But this is not all. The players remain where they are. Paper and a pencil are given to each vowel, and the one that can make the longest list of words, using only his own letter and his captive consonants, is the final winner, and receives the reward.
By this time both vowels and consonants will be ready for refreshments, which may consist of lemonade and fancy alphabet crackers, or cakes with letteredicing. A few songs and recitations may be introduced to add variety; and a pleasing exercise for the close would be “The Juniors’ Message to All,” given as follows:
Select eight of the Juniors who are rather slender, about the same height, and dressed in white. Take off their labels. Placing a large screen temporarily before them, or closing the sliding doors between them and their expectant audience, arrange them in front of a dark curtain or other background in such positions that they will themselves form letters of white, spelling a short word easily recognized. It is not very difficult, but you will need to experiment a little. For the first letter, one Junior stands facing the audience for the upright part, another sits on the floor just behind, facing the right; for the second letter, two Juniors curve themselves as completely as possible around a hoop which they both hold, the open part toward the audience; for the third, two stand leaning away from each other, with hands or a string tightly clasped to keep from falling; for the fourth, the same arrangement as the first except that the standing Junior reaches one arm straight out at the side, toward the right of the audience, and the seated one also reaches one arm partly out in the same direction. Remove the screen when you have them arranged to your satisfaction, and the other children will recognize, in living letters of white, the word “Love,” which is the Juniors’ message to all.
“Little Miss MuffetSat on a tuffet,Eating curds and whey.There came a black spider,And sat down beside her,And frightened Miss Muffet away.”
“Little Miss MuffetSat on a tuffet,Eating curds and whey.There came a black spider,And sat down beside her,And frightened Miss Muffet away.”
“Little Miss MuffetSat on a tuffet,Eating curds and whey.There came a black spider,And sat down beside her,And frightened Miss Muffet away.”
Little Miss Muffet,Queen of the Meadow.The Black Spider.The Fly.The Cricket.The Wise Mole.Three Field-Mice.Six Little Dairymaids.Three Elves,boys.Three Sprites,girls.Six Rabbits,three boys and three girls.
Little Miss Muffet,Queen of the Meadow.The Black Spider.The Fly.The Cricket.The Wise Mole.Three Field-Mice.Six Little Dairymaids.Three Elves,boys.Three Sprites,girls.Six Rabbits,three boys and three girls.
Act I.—The Meadow.Act II.—The Spider’s Web.(A constant undertone of music throughout the whole play.)
Little Miss Muffet: A dainty little girl of ten, with long hair and a daisy garland. Short frock of white or sky-blue, bare legs, and socks to match the frock. White slippers.
Spider: A stout boy of twelve, in tight-fitting, shiny black from head to foot. Jet ornaments sewed here and there. Black mittens. Swarthy face, black beard, large smoked goggles, top-hat, the worse for wear.
Fly: A slim boy of nine, in tight green clothes. A long-tailed coat, with brass buttons, green long hose, green slippers, rainbow wings. The wings can be made much as a kite is made. A green skull-cap.
Cricket: A boy of the same age as the Fly, but a trifle larger. Plain loose black jacket and loose knickerbockers, black shoes, black skull-cap, brown wings. There should be brown patches here and there, as if the fellow were poor.
Mole: A boy of twelve, in gray—very dark gray—flannel knickerbockers and a gray cloak. Spectacles, fur cap, shovel under one arm.
Field-Mice: Boys smaller than the Mole. Brown, loose-fitting jackets and knickerbockers, torn black stockings, black tails (cloth wound over rope).
Dairymaids: Six little girls from ten to twelve, in low-necked white frocks. Bare arms. White stockings, mob-caps and aprons.
Elves: Boys from eight to ten, in tightly fittingclothes. One boy in red, another in white, another in blue. Long hose. Pointed caps, cloth over cardboard. Wide sashes to match the costumes.
Sprites: Girls of the same ages as the Elves. Short frocks, low neck, short sleeves. Colors of frocks: yellow, violet, and orange. Garlands of wild-flowers, gold and silver wands.
Rabbits: Girls and boys of the same ages as the fairies. Boys.—Loose, light-gray flannel jackets and knickerbockers, and hoods with long ears which either stand up straight or stand out at right angles. They can be stiffened with little bamboo sticks. Short gray tails. White stockings. Girls.—White flannel hoods, ears, jackets, skirts, and stockings.
Act I.Back scene to represent a blue sky. A green carpet should be spread, and over it grass or hay should be scattered. The tuffet is a tiny stool made of rough wood; or the stool may be a handsome gilded one, with a cushion of yellow silk. The Spider should let himself down from a beam which the audience cannot see. Great care should be taken that the beam is strong, and the rope securely fastened to the beam and about the Spider’s waist.
—The Meadow. Music. A birthday party in honor ofLittle Miss Muffet,who at the rise of the curtain is discovered on her tuffet, centre.Left, a number of baskets. Dance of theSix Little Dairymaids.
Muffet(when the dance is done). That was a beautiful dance, dear friends. Thank you ever so much. I notice that the four-o’clocks at my feet are opening, so that it is time for our guests to arrive.
First Dairymaid.How fortunate that there are no ugly black clouds in the sky!
Muffet.Please, please do not use the word “black” any oftener than you cannot help. It reminds me of that horrible, crawly, eight-legged creature who lives in a—ugh!—in a web!
Second Dairymaid.Pardon me, Miss Muffet, but is it true that the Sp—— I mean that this creature dropped down from a tree the other day and asked you to be his Queen, and live in his—den?
Muffet.Yes, yes, of course, it’s true; but change the subject, I beg of you. (Enter,left,Fly;right,Cricket.They advance towardMuffet,glowering angrily at each other. Each kisses a hand ofMuffetat the same moment.) I am so glad you could come, both of you.
Fly(pointing atCricket). What ishehere for, I’d like to know?
Cricket(pointing atFly). And what ishehere for, pray?
Muffet.O, I do hope you won’t quarrel—to-day, especially. I think a great deal of you both; don’t I, Dairymaids?
Dairymaids.Of course you do!
Fly.That’s the worst news I could possibly hear, Miss Muffet. Do you mean to say that you like that plain black fellow better than you do me? Why, just look at my wings! I really think you might choose me as your King of the Meadow!
Cricket.How can you listen to such talk, Miss Muffet? That Fly is nothing but a vain popinjay, strutting and buzzing around!Hecan’t sing. I’m the right kind of King for you, every time!
Fly(angrily). Bzzzzzzzzzz!
Cricket.There! Did you ever hear a more disagreeable racket?
Muffet(covering her face with her hands). O, what shall I do? My birthday party is being spoiled!
Dairymaids(covering their faces with their hands). Yes, her party is being spoiled!
(CricketandFlydisdainfully fold their arms, and turn their backs on each other. Music. Enter, right, in a dignified manner,Wise MoleandThree Field-Mice.They bow low beforeMiss Muffet.)
Muffet.How glad I am to see you, Wise Mole, and you dear counsellors, the Field-Mice! What should I do without you all to guide me when I get into trouble?
Mole.You have evidently been weeping, my dear Queen—and on your birthday, too! What dreadfulthing can have happened? (Looking about uneasily.) Surely you have not seen the black Spider again?
Muffet and Dairymaids.O, no, no, no!
Mole.Tell me about it, whatever it may be.
Muffet.Why, I cannot make up my mind which I would prefer for a husband—the Cricket, or the Fly. One has a beautiful song; the other, beautiful wings. They are both angry, and insist on knowing which one shall sit upon the tuffet with me.
(MoleandField-Miceput their heads together.)
Mole.It is our opinion that the tuffet is not big enough for more than one person, so that neither the Fly nor the Cricket can claim your hand. Come, be friends! (Putting the hands of the rivals together. They shake hands not very cordially, while theDairymaidsapplaud.)
Muffet.O goody—goody! Now we can go on in peace! (Music. Enter, left,Rabbits;right,Fairies.Muffetstands up on her tuffet, and kisses her hands to the newcomers.Cricket,right;Fly,left;MoleandField-Miceright of stage.) Welcome to my meadow and my party!
Dairymaids.Welcome! Welcome!
(Music. Dance of theFairiesand theRabbits.TheDairymaidsstand in a row at rear, clapping time.)
Muffet(seating herself when the dance is over). Sit down, my dear guests, and have some of the curds and whey which the dear Dairymaids have provided.
(Music. TheDairymaidstake out from their baskets, left, spoons, bowls, and jars of curds and whey. They serveMuffetfirst. Rumbling, thundering music.Spiderlets himself down directly overMuffetby means of his “thread” (rope), and lands at side of Queen, whom he tries to embrace.Muffetand all her guests jump up, screaming. Stampede, left.Spider,quite deserted, seats himself on the tuffet. Low music.)
Spider(untying the “thread” from his body. The thread is drawn upward, out of sight). I’ll have her yet! She’s a pretty little thing. I’m bound that she shall sit in my parlor and spin for me all day long! My web shall be the largest and silkiest in the wide world. I have no time for spinning. I would much rather be eating nice fat flies. I’m hungry for one at this moment. Ah, but I saw a dainty specimen standing at Miss Muffet’s side. Burrrrrooooo! I’m furious to think that the Queen and her guests have escaped me! (Fairiespeep out, laughing.) Who dares to laugh at Me, the King of the Web? (TheFairiesdart out on stage, right.)
First Elf.You’re it for tag, Spider, old boy!
(ExeuntFairies,right.Spidergives chase. Enter cautiously, left,Muffetcarrying her bowl of curds and whey, andFly.Muffetseats herself on her tuffet, looking about fearfully.)
Muffet.Has the horrid thing really gone away?
Fly(protectingly, but stammering with fright). Of c-c-course, Miss Muffet, I-I will pro-protect you. (He tries to sit on the tuffet.)
Muffet.No, my dear Fly, there is room for only one on the tuffet, you know.
Fly.How can I show my great love for you, my Queen of the Meadow?
Muffet.By slaying the wicked black Spider, who has devoured so many of your relatives, to say nothing of dragon-flies, caterpillars, and—crickets.
Fly(drawing his dagger). I’ll give battle to the monster at once! I’ll slay him single-handed, and wrap him up like a mummy in his own web! Farewell! (Music.Flykisses the hand ofMuffet.ExitFly,right.Muffetgoes on eating her curds and whey.)
CURTAIN.
—The Spider’s Web. A dark, dungeon-like room. Straw on floor. Small door at left. Swords and spears hanging on rear wall. Spinning-wheel, centre. From it radiate many strands of web (colored string). As the curtain rises, theSpideris spinning at his wheel. Noise of some one coming rapidly up the stairs, left.
Spider(jumping to his feet). Hark! An enemy!
(Takes down sword from wall. Brandishing the weapon, he retreats into a further corner, right, where he squats down. Door bursts open. EnterFlywith a drawn sword.)
Fly.Bzzzzzzzzzz! This is thy last hour, thou foul black Spider fiend!
(A terrific encounter with swords. The web is partially cut down. FinallySpiderandFlygrapple.SpiderputsFlyon his back, holds him down, and binds him with web. Just as he picks up his sword and prepares to giveFlyhis death-blow, a great trampling is heard on the stairs, and at a blast from a fairy trumpet enterCricket,followed byFairies,Rabbits,Mole,andField-Mice,all armed to the teeth.)
Cricket.At him, my men! And to the rescue of the Fly!
(ElvesandRabbitsthrow themselves onSpider,overcome him, and bind him, hand and foot, in his web. Meanwhile,SpritesreleaseFly.EnterMiss MuffetandDairymaids.)
Muffet.Poor Fly! To think that I allowed you to attack the black Spider single-handed! I can never forgive myself! I hope that I have sent aid in time! Are you wounded?
Fly.My wings are somewhat snipped; that’s all.
Mole(holding a sword to theSpider’sthroat).Will you promise by your eight legs to spin nothing hereafter but beautiful garments for Little Miss Muffet, Queen of the Meadow?
Spider(in a meek, choked voice). I promise.
Cricket.Remember, you are never to spin another web as long as you live! I don’t care to have any more of my relatives entrapped.
Spider.I promise.
Fly.Do you promise to eat no more flies as long as you live?
Spider.I do.
Mole.Very well, Elves, I appoint you as guards for the black Spider over night. In the morning I will send around two Roosters whom I know. For a reasonable salary of corn I am sure they will consent to keep an eye on him hereafter.
Muffet.Dear Fly, I like you all the better now that you have so bravely bearded the black Spider in his web. Never again will he attempt to sit beside me! (Spider groans.)
Cricket.But what about me?
Muffet.As for you, my dear Cricket, I like you just as much as I do the Fly, because you have led the expedition which rescued him and captured that horrid thing. (Spider groans.) Now, friends all, let us go back to the meadow, and finish our curds and whey.
(Music.)
CURTAIN.
In a little Ohio farming community the children of Junior age have many bright plans of work, and one of them is a barrel brigade. That is not what they called it, I think; but the name fits so well that we will let it stand, and I know that many Junior societies will like the plan. Probably some of them are already trying it in one form or another, but for those who have not thought of it here is a new field of usefulness of the kind that brings “that comfortable feeling” both to the workers and to those to whom the barrel is a welcome and sometimes unexpected source of supply.
The particular barrel brigade mentioned meets regularly, either monthly or oftener, on Saturday afternoons, for sewing and other business necessary for their purpose, which is to fill a barrel each year, to be sent to some poor family or families, either near or far, perhaps to some struggling missionary’s household where the little ones are more numerous than the ways of providing for them.
From the materials at their disposal the children prepare and put in all kinds of things that they think will add to the comfort of those receiving them. Take an imaginary peep into one of these barrels, and you will see something like the following array—if you dig deep enough!—warm crocheted mittens, babies’ socks, hoods, and even shawls; children’s clothing, now become too small for some of the rapidly growing firstowners; reading-matter of various kinds; a few toys sprinkled in here and there, not always new, but so carefully repaired by the young carpenters, painters, and seamstresses as to look like new or even better; aprons, holders, and dish-towels; bright home-made rugs, cushions, and even a patchwork quilt, for some of the little girls are as fond as were their grandmothers of cutting calico into little pieces for the sake of sewing it together again. Never mind; this is not so foolish as it may seem, for the quilt is warm, most of the pieces were bits left over from gowns, and surely the old-fashioned “quilting-bee” must have been royal fun for the brigade.
When all else is packed, a generous storekeeper usually contributes several pairs of shoes and rubbers, and other small articles, just to “fill in the chinks.” The shoes, of course, are selected, according to sizes previously learned, to fit the different pairs of feet that they are to cover. And, if some larger articles are contributed also, the hearts of the brigade are still further rejoiced.
Any Junior society, whether in city or in country, could have a “barrel brigade,” and with very little expense collect and prepare things so useful and appropriate for the particular family or persons that are to receive them that the practical value would prove worth many times the cost. The barrel’s contents will vary according to the need, and also according to the materials at hand; but it is hardly necessary to say that food, if at all perishable, should not be includedif the barrel is to go by freight, as it is likely to be a long time on the way. Clothing, reading-matter, and many other home comforts can be packed and sent with safety.
Decorate the room with such mountain flowers and foliage as can be procured, and order in advance of a stationer enough favors for all the Juniors, each favor, when pulled, to reveal some article of travelling-costume in crape paper or tissue-paper that will suggest mountain-climbing. They might all be odd mountain hats of various colors and kinds, the Alpine predominating; or some of them might be long travelling-cloaks.
For the first half or three-quarters of an hour have a stereopticon talk on the people and scenery of the Alps, giving pictures of Swiss peasants and their cottages, and interspersing story and incident to add to the interest. Follow this with a little appropriate music; a “Swiss bells” instrumental selection and one or two pretty mountain songs like “The Herdsman’s Mountain Home” would be good.
Then the Juniors are presented with their “travelling-bags,” as the favors may be called, and are told to open them by pulling, and that they will find something to wear while climbing the mountain. When all are dressed for the climb, the preparations are completed by giving each an alpenstock, and arranging several hassocks, cushions, big books, etc., in thepath of the prospective climbers; for the “mountain-climb” proves to be an obstacle race on one foot.
When this part of the fun is over, there may be a written question game, involving more mountains. Here is a list that may prove suggestive:
1. What mountain in Switzerland is a girl’s name?
2. What mountain in North Carolina is a favorite relative of most Juniors?
3. What mountains are full of maps?
4. What mountain in Asia is the atmosphere and a small animal?
5. What mountain in Wales was pelted by a storm?
6. What mountain in Massachusetts reminds you of horseback-riding?
7. What peak in Japan is the first syllable of a girl’s name and an exclamation?
8. What mountains are household animals and also destroy life?
9. What mountain in the Apennines is something that hurts, and the exclamation it causes?
10. What mountain is a famous university?
11. What mountains in Australia are a kitchen stove in good order?
12. What mountains, if mixed, would make gray?
13. What mountains could blow a loud blast?
14. What hills in England are a kind of cloth?
15. What mountain in Brazil is a musical instrument?
16. What volcano in Sicily becomes a girl’s name by changing one letter?
17. What mountains give light at night?
18. What mountain is a Bible character?
19. What mountains mean a pleasant day?
20. What mountain makes a noise like a college yell?
21. On what mountain did you eat your dinner?
22. What Irish mountains are very sad?
23. What mountain in Oregon is worn on the head?
24. What mountain belongs to the baby?
25. What mountains in Spain are a good kind of soap?
26. What mountain in Palestine is a balm?
27. What mountains in Texas could take a scalp?
28. What mountains are dangerous to boats?
Following are the answers:
1. Rosa.
2. Grandfather.
3. Atlas.
4. Ararat.
5. Snowdon.
6. Saddleback.
7. Jesso.
8. Catskill.
9. Corno.
10. Harvard.
11. Black Range.
12. Black and White.
13. Big Horn.
14. Cheviot.
15. Organ.
16. Etna. (Edna.)
17. Mountains of the Moon.
18. St. Elias.
19. Fairweather.
20. Hooper. (Whooper.)
21. Table.
22. Mourne.
23. Mt. Hood.
24. Cradle.
25. Castile.
26. Gilead.
27. Apache.
28. Rocky.
To the Junior who has answered the most questions correctly a reward may be given, perhaps some pretty little article of Swiss workmanship, a set of the Perry Pictures comprising mountain views, or a book containing a good story of mountain life.
Refreshments served in picnic style may be sandwiches, and berries supposed to have been “picked on the mountains.” Close the evening with singing.
After a missionary meeting let the Juniors decide what missionary or mission field they would like to help; then give to each a mite-box marked with his own name, to hold missionary pennies. Some months afterward, have your “rainbow social.”
Collect the missionary mite-boxes a few days before, and except on the bottom, where the name is written, they may be gilded to suggest still further the pot of gold to be found at the end of the rainbow.
The room where the social is to be held should be decorated with tissue-paper in rainbow colors. Each Junior should have a rainbow chain, made of the same material, hung around his neck. The refreshments should have the rainbow colors, too—oranges, apples, olives, variegated ice-cream, etc. The “rainbow” feature may be carried out in another way by asking each one present to tell one bright story or happening, or sing a verse of some bright song, or recite something cheering.
Tell the Juniors the story of the pot of fairy gold supposed to be at the end of every rainbow. Then have your “rainbow hunt,” arranged with ribbons as in the “red-line jubilee,” except that the ribbons are of rainbow colors, and at each end is discovered one of their old friends, the mite-boxes, transformed into a treasure of shining gold. The Juniors may exchange them, if they wish, among themselves, until each one has his own; then they are broken and the “gold” inside counted separately and all together. Close the social with a bright missionary song, and later, after devoting the money to the object determined upon, tell the Juniors as much as possible of just how it was used, and why it must have seemed to those receiving it like “fairy gold” indeed. By this time the Juniors’ interest in missions will probably be so enthusiastic that they will want to try it all over again.
There are still many girls, even in these hygienic times, who are not fortunate enough to attend schools that have gymnasiums. For these the Junior girls may like to help organize a class for the practice of handkerchief gymnastics. The writer has made a thorough test of every one of these exercises before recommending them, and knows them to be of practical benefit. They are similar to those practised daily at Cornell University.
More breath means more life, and some of theseexercises are especially good to promote deep breathing. Let each girl come provided with a large handkerchief and a gymnasium suit, which is easily adapted from an old dress having a loose blouse; nothing but the skirt will require change.